The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, encompassing four states, have stated that governance through palliatives, intimidation, or deceptive tactics cannot offer a permanent solution to the country’s challenges.
This declaration was made in a communique issued at the conclusion of their meeting held at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute in Igoba, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The communique was signed by Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin of the Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese and Bishop John Oyejola, the meeting’s chairman and secretary, respectively.
The clerics asserted, “We strongly believe that if governments in Nigeria at all levels had responded more promptly and effectively to the groans and distress calls of the Nigerian people, the current protest would not have gathered momentum.”
” Nigerians have cried out about dire hunger in the land, persistent insecurity, failed promises, dashed hopes, the outrageous cost of living and governance, and ineffectiveness of the rule of law in curbing criminality among public officials not to talk of many public officers’ ineptitude with serious national issues.”
“We strongly urge the Federal, State and Local Governments to promptly attend to the distress call of the Nigerian people and turn a new leaf by responding promptly and effectively henceforth to the problems and distress of Nigerians.
“As we have said in the recent past, governance by palliatives, by intimidation or by hide and seek methods cannot provide a permanent solution to the challenges faced by the country.”
Regarding the planned protest, the clerics urged Nigerians to conduct their demonstrations peacefully and orderly.
They also called on governments at all levels to be proactive and respond promptly to the suffering of Nigerians to prevent protests.
According to the communique, the bishops emphasized that protests should not cause alarm in a normal democratic setting, as the right to protest is guaranteed in true democracies worldwide. However, they cautioned that protesters must ensure their actions are orderly while exercising their constitutional rights.
“The protests in Nigeria should serve their intended purpose and no other,” they stated. “Protesters should exercise restraint and avoid disturbing or intimidating those who choose not to participate, respecting their inalienable right to abstain.”
They added, “Such individuals should be allowed to go about their lawful business unhindered. The organizers of the protest have a responsibility to ensure this or call off the protest.”
The bishops also urged the country’s security agencies to handle the protest and the protesters professionally to avoid violence and bloodshed.
“During this protest, therefore, relevant security organizations must show restraint and civility in discharging their duties and avoid violence and accidental deaths which unfortunately seem to have characterized past exercises in Nigeria.
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